Latino workers and the future of labor
X post in Labor
http://www.reflejos.com/en/stories/nation-world/article/14-09-07/latinos_y_la_fuerza_laboral.aspx
September 07, 2014
Latino officials and labor leaders state Hispanics increasingly represent the workforce of the future as well as the future of the labor movement.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez believes that the best way to honor workers on Labor Day is to give them a raise. President Obamas opportunity agenda is about rewarding hard work with a fair wage, he said. Thats why weve fought so hard for an increase in the national minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Its based on a very basic value proposition: no one who works full-time in America should have to raise their families in poverty. The presidents proposal would benefit 28 million workers nationwide, one quarter of whom are Latino.
Perez said that too many low-wage Latino workers face difficult choices every day. Do we buy a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas? Do we pay the utility bill this month or buy school supplies? Raising the minimum wage would put more money in their pockets, giving them a little more breathing room and peace of mind.
Meanwhile, many union leaders say it is important to understand the significance of Hispanics as a vital force in the labor movement.
FULL story at link.